BUFFALO, N.Y. — A man is dead after a shooting involving Buffalo Police on Wednesday morning that, according to Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia, started as a traffic stop that "rapidly evolved."
The incident happened along Kensington Avenue near Poultney Avenue, just after midnight, where a car was seen off the road.
Buffalo Police have not released the identity of the man who later died at ECMC. But, 2 On Your Side has confirmed that he is 25-year-old Dae'von Roberts, the half-brother of Jaylen Griffin, the 12-year-old whose body was found inside a home in South Buffalo in April.
During an afternoon news conference, Commissioner Gramaglia was asked about but would not comment on any potential relationship citing that the department was still in the process of notifying family members.
Gramaglia said he had reviewed video of the incident that was captured on the body-worn cameras of the two officers who pulled Roberts over for allegedly speeding and having tinted windows.
Police released the body cam video on Thursday
WARNING: The video contains images that may be upsetting to some.
In the video, the Commissioner said after approaching the car the officers observed a 6-year-old child in the front seat without a seatbelt and were heard asking the driver, Roberts for identification.
Roberts is reportedly heard telling the officers he doesn't have a driver's license or photo ID, then shows one of the officers a picture of a Georgia ID on his phone, which Commissioner Gramaglia said the officers could not verify.
The driver is then asked to step out of the vehicle, according to Gramaglia, but instead drove off with one of the officers still holding onto the window of the open door.
"This point, without any provocation without any warning, the driver of the vehicle quickly put the car in drive and accelerated at a very high rate of speed. The officer who had a hold of the top of the door was unable to let go of the door," Gramaglia said.
The officer is heard in the bodycam video pleading with the driver to stop according to the Commissioner and told Roberts: "You're going to kill me, you're going to kill me." The vehicle reportedly reached speeds as high as 60 mph while the officer was hanging on.
"Watching the video it appears as though the motorist turned to the side and almost in a kicking motion, we are making an assumption at this point, it appears as though the driver was trying to kick the driver off the side of the vehicle," said Gramaglia.
At that point, the officer fired his service weapon, striking the driver five times. The officer brought the car under control, and he and Roberts fell out.
The vehicle traveled another 100 yards before coming to a stop near Kensington and Wyoming avenues with the child still in it.
The 6-year-old was unharmed and officers tried to save the driver who, according to Commissioner Gramaglia, showed signs of life.
Buffalo Police spokesperson Michael DeGeorge said in a statement that homicide detectives and Internal Affairs are conducting separate investigations into the incident and that the New York State Attorney General's Office of Special Investigations has been notified.
The Attorney General's Office told 2 On Your Side Wednesday that it is conducting a preliminary assessment of the matter.
Commissioner Gramaglia said that the department will release the body camera footage after the family of Dae'von Roberts has had a chance to view it.
The officer who was dragged with the vehicle suffered minor injuries and was treated at ECMC and later released.